Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Salary
In Arkansas, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn $51,550 at the median, or about $24.79 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $58,820 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Arkansas?
About heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Arkansas runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $60K | +17% | 7,500 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $57K | +11% | 7,910 |
| Jonesboro | $48K | -8% | 1,220 |
| Fort Smith | $48K | -8% | 2,030 |
| Hot Springs | $45K | -14% | 320 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 29.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,206/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $52K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
Arkansas pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make in Arkansas?
The median is $51,550 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,770, and experienced heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers can clear $81,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,468/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 29.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers salary is worth about $58,820 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.